Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to know if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can lead to problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This process can take many years or months until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and the kidneys aren’t able remove it properly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently have a thirsty feeling and must drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks often have plenty of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.